The Teachings of Jesus

Salvation

Lesson #4 for July 26, 2014

Scriptures: [Luke 15:3-10; 18:9-14; John 6:35,44,47-51; 8:34-36; Matthew 20:28][i].

1.    The great controversy is a war of ideas between a loving, truth-telling God and a lying, deceitful usurper, named Satan, who wants us just to relax and continue in our sins. What he does not want us to know is that for each one of us, it is also a choice between life and death. None of us has to die the second death. As promised in that most famous verse, John 3:16ii, God has come to this one rebel planet to seek and save lost sinners. He sent His Son, Jesus-the Greek form of the Hebrew name Yeshua or Joshua which means “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh heals”-to save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21iii)

2.    We cannot do anything about our past sins. God is always willing and eager to forgive us our sins if we turn to Him. “For sin pays its wage-death; but God’s free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23iv, GNB) Those who refuse to give up their sinful past will be destroyed with their sins. This is a result of their sins and not a punishment for their sins. But, for everyone who is willing to leave his sins behind, God offers the most generous salvation. We must be willing to give up and stop our past sins!

3.    First John 4:8,16[v] tell us that “God is love.” The Greek word agapao there translated as love means a deep and unrelenting care and concern for all His sinful children, none of whom deserve it. This is not a feeling on God’s part. It is not a whim or an emotional response. It is a basic principled reaction necessitated by God’s very nature of love. Thus, God gave us a gift that is beyond our comprehension, the most precious gift possible, Himself.

4.    And how have we as a race of human beings responded? Read Luke 18:9-14vi. Try to imagine how this parable about the Pharisee and the publican or tax collector-which was probably based on a true story-affected the people who originally heard it. They knew that Pharisees were saints! And they knew that tax collectors were sinners! How could the tax collector be the recipient of God’s forgiveness and the Pharisee not receive God’s forgiveness? Surely, that was an unjust outcome! It tells us that we cannot buy or earn salvation in any way; it is a free gift. We can only receive it.

5.    If God gave us what we deserve, what would it be? The only thing we could possibly earn by our sinful behaviors is a place in the lake of fire! (Revelation 20:14-15vii)

6.    Fortunately for us, God has done everything possible to prevent that. He has taken the initiative and sent His Son to teach us the truth about sin, death, and especially about Himself and the Father. (John 7:28; 8:29; 12:49viii)

7.    As we learned in our last lesson, all three Members of the Godhead are doing Their best to save us and to convince us of the rightness of Their cause. (Romans 8:26-39ix) God will weep as Satan and the wicked perish! (See 1SP 29.2; SR 26:1; EW 146.1; 1SG18.1.)

8.    Read 1 John 4:10. What does this verse mean to you? What does it mean to say that God loved us and sent His Son to be “the means by which our sins are forgiven.” (GNB) Compare Romans 8:3[x]. Did Jesus come to pay some kind of debt that we cannot pay? Is the Father demanding a payment for our sins? If God is not demanding the payment, who is? Luke 19:10xi (NKJV) tells us that “the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” John 12:32xii says that when we come to understand the purpose of His death on the cross, it attracts us to Him in a way that nothing else could.

9.    Read Luke 15:3-10xiii. What did these two individuals do when they realized they had lost something of value? They sought for it until they found it. Is that a fair representation of what God does in seeking for us?

No sooner does the sheep go astray than the shepherd is filled with grief and anxiety. He counts and recounts the flock. When he is sure that one sheep is lost, he slumbers not. He leaves the ninety and nine within the fold, and goes in search of the straying sheep. The darker and more tempestuous the night and the more perilous the way, the greater is the shepherd’s anxiety and the more earnest his search. He makes every effort to find that one lost sheep.

With what relief he hears in the distance its first faint cry. Following the sound, he climbs the steepest heights, he goes to the very edge of the precipice, at the risk of his own life. Thus he searches, while the cry, growing fainter, tells him that his sheep is ready to die. At last his effort is rewarded; the lost is found.—Ellen G. White, Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 188.

Both the sheep and the coin were lost. The sheep knew it was lost but could not find its way back. The coin had no knowledge that it was lost. The Owner worked to get both back.

10.    So, what did Jesus have to do to save us? Was His death really required? Couldn’t God have shown His love for us in some less “expensive” way?

John the Baptist described Jesus as “ ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ ” (John 1:29xiv, NKJV). This image was easy for any Israelite familiar with the sacrifices offered in the temple and the sacred history recorded in the Old Testament to understand. Abraham had revealed his faith that “ ‘God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering’ ” (NKJV); and the Lord did provide the animal to be sacrificed in place of Isaac (Gen. 22:8,13xv). In Egypt, a lamb was slain by the Israelites as a symbol of their divine deliverance from the bondage of sin (Exod. 12:1-13xvi). Later, when the sanctuary service was established, two lambs were to be sacrificed on the altar each day, continuously: one in the morning and the other at twilight (Exod. 29:38, 39xvii). All these sacrifices were symbols of the coming Messiah, who “was led as a lamb to the slaughter” because “the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:6, 7xviii, NKJV). Therefore, by introducing Jesus as “ ‘the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world’ ” (John 1:29xix, NKJV), John the Baptist was revealing the vicarious nature of Christ’s atoning death. (Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Tuesday, July 22.)

11.    What is the meaning of “the vicarious nature of Christ’s atoning death”? Does this suggest that God the Father is demanding that someone must die to “pay the price of sin”? No! God loved the world so much He gave His Son. See John 3:16xx.

12.    Did the disciples understand the necessity for Jesus’s death? [(Matthew 16:22; Luke 18:31-34)]xxi They were certain that Jesus was going to become king and drive out the Romans! Jesus repeatedly tried to explain to His disciples that His death was necessary. See [Matthew 20:28; John 10:11]xxii. Compare John 15:13. What did it mean for Jesus to say: “This is my blood, which seals God’s covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.” (Matthew 26:28xxiii, GNB) What does blood have to do with the forgiveness of sins?

13.    We need to be clear that no one demanded Christ’s death. In John 10:18xxiv (GNB), Jesus said: “No one takes my life away from me. I give it up of my own free will. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it back. This is what my Father has commanded me to do.” The death of Jesus was absolutely necessary to show us the results of sin-the second death. God is pleading with us not to die that death.

14.    Do we really understand why Jesus had to die? Are we grateful for what He did? Do we understand the truths represented by His life and death?

15.    Read [Luke 4:18 and John 8:34-36]xxv. Are we really slaves? How does the Son set us free? Jesus’s original audience believed that they had an inside track to salvation with a guaranteed result because they were descendants of Abraham. As Seventh-day Adventist Christians, do we sometimes believe that we have a free ride into the kingdom? Are we saved by our doctrinal knowledge? Personal godliness? Or, maybe by our record of service for God? Don’t we have the truth?

16.    It is only by clearly understanding the truth about God’s character and His government as demonstrated by the life and death of Jesus that we have an opportunity to be saved.

17.    On several occasions, Jesus stirred up a great deal of controversy by forgiving people’s sins. Read Mark 2:1-12. Compare the story in Luke 7:37-48xxvi.

18.    Does God have any trouble forgiving sins? Read Luke 23:34xxvii. Jesus forgave the men who were crucifying Him!

Christ was treated as we deserve, that we might be treated as He deserves.

He was condemned for our sins, in which He had no share, that we might be justified by His righteousness, in which we had no share. He suffered the death which was ours, that we might receive the life which was His. “With His stripes we are healed.” [Isaiah 53:5, KJV] (The Desire of Ages 25.2) [Content in brackets is added.]

19.    How do you understand that paragraph? Does the death of Jesus teach us something important about the results of sin? What would happen to one of us if we became separated from God, the only Source of life? We would die immediately! The life and death of Jesus give us a choice. We can choose to live the kind of life which He lived; or, we will die the kind of death which He died. (See DA 753.1.) We can align ourselves with God’s side, accepting the offer of all three Members of the Godhead to assist us; (Romans 8:26-39) or, we can continue in our selfish, self-indulgent ways and by default choose Satan’s side and die the death which Jesus died and end up in the lake of fire.

20.    But, the promises of Jesus are far more than just eternal life in the future kingdom. He promises us salvation now! “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36xxviii, GNB) He also said we have already “passed from death to life.” (John 5:24xxix, GNB)

21.    Read John 10:10. Jesus assured us that He came in order that we “might have life-life in all its fullness.” (GNB) Jesus has promised us freedom from the condemnation of sin now!

22.    What other metaphors did Jesus use to try to describe His role in the plan of salvation? Read John 6:35,47-51. Jesus is the bread of life. What happens to bread? We consume it, and it becomes a part of us. Jesus is asking us to intellectually “consume” the truths of Scripture, and it will change us.

He who beholds the Saviour’s matchless love will be elevated in thought, purified in heart, transformed in character. He will go forth to be a light to the world, to reflect in some degree this mysterious love. The more we contemplate the cross of Christ, the more fully shall we adopt the language of the apostle when he said, “God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” Gal. 6:14.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 661.

23.    With all of these promises ringing in our ears and with God’s gracious offers before us, is there anything we still need to do? Read [Matthew 6:33 and Luke 13:24]xxx. Do we need to “seek the kingdom of God and His righteousness” even “striving to enter through the narrow gate”? Doesn’t that seem like a contradiction?

24.    Do we clearly understand how the life and death of Jesus reveal not only God’s justice but also His mercy? The Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide suggests that sin is so “bad” “that only the death of Jesus could atone for it.” (Friday, July 25) What does that mean? Did the Father offer His Son, sending Him to this world and then turn around and demand His death to appease His own wrath as some suggest?

25.    Why do so many Christians love to claim God’s forgiveness and then feel free to go back and commit the same sins again? Is that God’s intent? Or, is God’s forgiveness supposed to lead us to a changed life? Does salvation include a transformation and not just a redemption? How much is included in God’s salvation? How does it save us from the results of sin? How do you understand the following words from the Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, p. 49-50?

Parents who bury their children experience incomparable agony. Our heavenly Father willingly sacrificed His only Child, watching, seemingly helpless, as Christ collapsed beneath the weight of humanity’s accumulated transgressions and that splintered cross. God witnessed that thorny crown driven through weathered flesh until blood, gushing downward, painted Christ’s body crimson. Ridiculing soldiers-crude, unworthy, uncouth specimens-mocked their Savior mercilessly. Self-righteous religious leaders shouted, “Crucify Him!” Compliant governmental officials, milquetoasts, abandoned Jesus. Earthly disciples scattered everywhere. When Christ petitioned His Father, silence enshrouded Him. Could despair have pierced with greater fierceness? Thousands of weeping angels waited anxiously, prepared to obliterate heaven’s enemies. Overwrought with grief, they stared elsewhere, unable to understand why Jesus, their esteemed Commander, could not receive their assistance. Abandonment by fickle politicians, jaded religionists, and weak-willed disciples was one thing; but His Father, too, asleep when greatly needed? Why should Jesus die for these rebellious priests, these unappreciative followers, these cowardly politicians, and those ignorant masses beyond? Sunset approached, marking the completion of Jesus’ agonizing final minutes. Momentarily His naked corpse would be wrestled away from the cross, ripping His flesh, furthering His disfigurement. Only Joseph, from Arimathea, and Nicodemus, from Jerusalem, spared Christ the indignity of an unmarked criminal burial.

Such was the redemptive price for our transgressions.

How tragically ironic that many believers consider salvation an entitlement.

Such heady overconfidence! They reason that because God promised salvation, they deserve salvation. How this attitude betrays the shallowness of cheap grace. Unworthy sinful mortals mortgaging the universe’s Creator! Heaven’s balance sheet states otherwise. Humankind stands eternally indebted, completely without merit, and helplessly diseased apart from God.

Christ owes nothing. Sinful humanity owes everything.

26.    How does that make you feel? Will we ignore or spurn such a demonstration? Will God’s greatest Gift be wasted on us?

© 2014, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged.    Info@theox.org

Last Modified: June 1, 2014

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The Teachings of Jesus - #4 - page 4 of 4

i-Luke 15:3 So Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them - what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one that got lost until you find it. 5 When you find it, you are so happy that you put it on your shoulders 6 and carry it back home. Then you call your friends and neighbors together and say to them, "I am so happy I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate!' 7 In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent. 8 "Or suppose a woman who has ten silver coins loses one of them - what does she do? She lights a lamp, sweeps her house, and looks carefully everywhere until she finds it. 9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, and says to them, "I am so happy I found the coin I lost. Let us celebrate!' 10 In the same way, I tell you, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents."

Luke 18:9 Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else. 10 "Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed, "I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there. 12 I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income.' 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, "God, have pity on me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you," said Jesus, "the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great."

John 6:9 Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else. 10 "Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed, "I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there. 12 I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income.' 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, "God, have pity on me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you," said Jesus, "the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great." 44 People cannot come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them to me; and I will raise them to life on the last day. 47 I am telling you the truth: he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but they died. 50 But the bread that comes down from heaven is of such a kind that whoever eats it will not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If you eat this bread, you will live forever. The bread that I will give you is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live." 47 I am telling you the truth: he who believes has eternal life. 48 I am the bread of life. 49 Your ancestors ate manna in the desert, but they died. 50 But the bread that comes down from heaven is of such a kind that whoever eats it will not die. 51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If you eat this bread, you will live forever. The bread that I will give you is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live."

John 8:34 Jesus said to them, "I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there forever. 36 If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free.

Matthew 20:28 like the Son of Man, who did not come to be served, but to serve and to give his life to redeem many people."

ii-John 3:16 For God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not die but have eternal life.

iii-Matthew 1: 21 She will have a son, and you will name him Jesus - because he will save his people from their sins."

iv-Romans 6:23 For sin pays its wage - death; but God's free gift is eternal life in union with Christ Jesus our Lord.

v-1 John 4:8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 16 And we ourselves know and believe the love which God has for us. God is love, and those who live in love live in union with God and God lives in union with them.

vi-Luke 18:9 Jesus also told this parable to people who were sure of their own goodness and despised everybody else. 10 "Once there were two men who went up to the Temple to pray: one was a Pharisee, the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood apart by himself and prayed, "I thank you, God, that I am not greedy, dishonest, or an adulterer, like everybody else. I thank you that I am not like that tax collector over there. 12 I fast two days a week, and I give you one tenth of all my income.' 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance and would not even raise his face to heaven, but beat on his breast and said, "God, have pity on me, a sinner!' 14 I tell you," said Jesus, "the tax collector, and not the Pharisee, was in the right with God when he went home. For those who make themselves great will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be made great."

vii-Revelation 20:14 Then death and the world of the dead were thrown into the lake of fire. (This lake of fire is the second death.) 15 Those who did not have their name written in the book of the living were thrown into the lake of fire.

viii-John 7:28 As Jesus taught in the Temple, he said in a loud voice, "Do you really know me and know where I am from? I have not come on my own authority. He who sent me, however, is truthful. You do not know him,

John 8:29 And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him."

John 12:29 And he who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, because I always do what pleases him."

ix-Romans 8:26 In the same way the Spirit also comes to help us, weak as we are. For we do not know how we ought to pray; the Spirit himself pleads with God for us in groans that words cannot express. 27 And God, who sees into our hearts, knows what the thought of the Spirit is; because the Spirit pleads with God on behalf of his people and in accordance with his will. 28 We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose. 29 Those whom God had already chosen he also set apart to become like his Son, so that the Son would be the first among many believers. 30 And so those whom God set apart, he called; and those he called, he put right with himself, and he shared his glory with them. 31 In view of all this, what can we say? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 Certainly not God, who did not even keep back his own Son, but offered him for us all! He gave us his Son - will he not also freely give us all things? 33 Who will accuse God's chosen people? God himself declares them not guilty! 34 Who, then, will condemn them? Not Christ Jesus, who died, or rather, who was raised to life and is at the right side of God, pleading with him for us! 35 Who, then, can separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble do it, or hardship or persecution or hunger or poverty or danger or death? 36 As the scripture says, "For your sake we are in danger of death at all times; we are treated like sheep that are going to be slaughtered." 37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! 38 For I am certain that nothing can separate us from his love: neither death nor life, neither angels nor other heavenly rulers or powers, neither the present nor the future, 39 neither the world above nor the world below - there is nothing in all creation that will ever be able to separate us from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.

x-Romans 8:3 What the Law could not do, because human nature was weak, God did. He condemned sin in human nature by sending his own Son, who came with a nature like our sinful nature, to do away with sin.

xi-Luke 19:10 The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."

xii-John 12:32 When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.

xiii-Luke 15:3 So Jesus told them this parable: 4 "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them - what do you do? You leave the other ninety-nine sheep in the pasture and go looking for the one that got lost until you find it. 5 When you find it, you are so happy that you put it on your shoulders 6 and carry it back home. Then you call your friends and neighbors together and say to them, "I am so happy I found my lost sheep. Let us celebrate!' 7 In the same way, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine respectable people who do not need to repent. 8 "Or suppose a woman who has ten silver coins loses one of them - what does she do? She lights a lamp, sweeps her house, and looks carefully everywhere until she finds it. 9 When she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together, and says to them, "I am so happy I found the coin I lost. Let us celebrate!' 10 In the same way, I tell you, the angels of God rejoice over one sinner who repents."

xiv-John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

xv-Gen. 22:8 And Abraham said, "My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering." So the two of them went together. 13 Then Abraham lifted his eyes and looked, and there behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by its horns. So Abraham went and took the ram, and offered it up for a burnt offering instead of his son.

xvi-Exod. 12:1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron in the land of Egypt, saying, 2 "This month shall be your beginning of months; it shall be the first month of the year to you. 3 Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying: 'On the tenth day of this month every man shall take for himself a lamb, according to the house of his father, a lamb for a household. 4 And if the household is too small for the lamb, let him and his neighbor next to his house take it according to the number of the persons; according to each man's need you shall make your count for the lamb. 5 Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year. You may take it from the sheep or from the goats. 6 Now you shall keep it until the fourteenth day of the same month. Then the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it at twilight. 7 And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. 8 Then they shall eat the flesh on that night; roasted in fire, with unleavened bread and with bitter herbs they shall eat it. 9 Do not eat it raw, nor boiled at all with water, but roasted in fire--its head with its legs and its entrails. 10 You shall let none of it remain until morning, and what remains of it until morning you shall burn with fire. 11 And thus you shall eat it: with a belt on your waist, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand. So you shall eat it in haste. It is the Lord's Passover. 12 For I will pass through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. 13 Now the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you; and the plague shall not be on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.

xvii-Exod. 29:38 "Now this is what you shall offer on the altar: two lambs of the first year, day by day continually. 39 One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer at twilight.

xviii-Isa. 53:6 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. 7 He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.

xix-John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

xx-John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

xxi-Matthew 16:22 Then Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, "Far be it from You, Lord; this shall not happen to You!"

Luke 18:31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, "Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be delivered to the Gentiles and will be mocked and insulted and spit upon. 33 They will scourge Him and kill Him. And the third day He will rise again." 34 But they understood none of these things; this saying was hidden from them, and they did not know the things which were spoken.

xxii-Matthew 20:28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many."

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

xxiii-Matthew 26:28 28 "this is my blood, which seals God's covenant, my blood poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.

xxiv-John 10:18 No one takes my life away from me. I give it up of my own free will. I have the right to give it up, and I have the right to take it back. This is what my Father has commanded me to do."

xxv-Luke 4:18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed

John 8:34 Jesus said to them, "I am telling you the truth: everyone who sins is a slave of sin. 35 A slave does not belong to a family permanently, but a son belongs there forever. 36 If the Son sets you free, then you will be really free.

xxvi-Luke 7:37 In that town was a woman who lived a sinful life. She heard that Jesus was eating in the Pharisee's house, so she brought an alabaster jar full of perfume 38 and stood behind Jesus, by his feet, crying and wetting his feet with her tears. Then she dried his feet with her hair, kissed them, and poured the perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee saw this, he said to himself, "If this man really were a prophet, he would know who this woman is who is touching him; he would know what kind of sinful life she lives!" 40 Jesus spoke up and said to him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Yes, Teacher," he said, "tell me." 41 "There were two men who owed money to a moneylender," Jesus began. "One owed him five hundred silver coins, and the other owed him fifty. 42 Neither of them could pay him back, so he canceled the debts of both. Which one, then, will love him more?" 43 "I suppose," answered Simon, "that it would be the one who was forgiven more." "You are right," said Jesus. 44 Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your home, and you gave me no water for my feet, but she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. 45 You did not welcome me with a kiss, but she has not stopped kissing my feet since I came. 46 You provided no olive oil for my head, but she has covered my feet with perfume. 47 I tell you, then, the great love she has shown proves that her many sins have been forgiven. But whoever has been forgiven little shows only a little love." 48 Then Jesus said to the woman, "Your sins are forgiven."

xxvii-Luke 23:34 Jesus said, "Forgive them, Father! They don't know what they are doing." They divided his clothes among themselves by throwing dice.

xxviii-John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not have life, but will remain under God's punishment.

xxix-John 5:24 "I am telling you the truth: those who hear my words and believe in him who sent me have eternal life. They will not be judged, but have already passed from death to life.

xxx-Matthew 6:33 Instead, be concerned above everything else with the Kingdom of God and with what he requires of you, and he will provide you with all these other things.

Luke 13:24 "Do your best to go in through the narrow door; because many people will surely try to go in but will not be able.

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xii

xiii

xiv

xv

xvi

xvii

xviii

xix

xx

xxi

xxii

xxiii

xxiv

xxv

xxvi

xxvii

xxviii

xxix

xxx

i-

ii-

iii-

iv-

v-

vi-

vii-

viii-

ix-

x-

xi-

xii-

xiii-

xiv-

xv-

xvi-

xvii-

xviii-

xix-

xx-